Terminal ballistic research on the internet has a kiwi that must shoot a bazillion ungulates a week weighing over 300 kilograms.

He goes on and on about this subject.

There was a pretty cool thread on the campfire years ago about point blank shots into a bovine leg bone knuckle joint.

The author used a 30/06

Seemed the 200 grain Speer was very disappointing, but the 130 grain Barnes did very well considering.

I think the advice here has been good, bottom line:

Monolithics need velocity to preform. I think 1800 fps?

Cup and cores need sectional density....( mass) for penetration about .250?

Premium bonded ,A frame types need a little of both.

Frangebile bullets may begin to fall short due to the size of elk compared to smaller animals.

My favorite way to hunt elk in in fresh snow, tracking them. I can spend a lot of time disengaged from regular life trying to piece together what them buggers have been up to. So I usually use a Lever action. I got a small cow at 30 yards with a 336 marlin ER 356 cal 220 grain Speer hot cor this year.....damn near could eat to the hole. I think ( as in I know) using a .308, 300 sav, or a 30/06 with lighter bullets would have caused much more tissue damage.


But it's all good 😊........no fight here!

"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills